Electric Fence Recommendations

I'm about to start digging a new vegetable garden, and I'm sure the deer
will arrive for a late night snack about 20 minutes after I'm done. So, I'm
entertaining the though of running an electric fence around the plot. I'm
interested in opinions from anyone who's either been satisfied with a
specific brand or catalog offering, or totally disgusted (so I can avoid
that one). Positive recommendations should refer to units sold in the U.S.
-Doug

I can't recommend a specific brand, but be sure to get the electric fencing
that is the inch or so wide plastic with wires running through it, not just
single strand wire. We use a lot of electric fencing for our cattle, and the
deer seem to have problems seeing plain wire and will run right through a
fence. We hang plastic bags on the wire so the deer will see it and jump over
instead of running through and tearing down the fence. It works, but doesn't
look as nice as the wide fencing. That brings up another point - deer will
jump over, crawl under, and slide through a fence, so you'll want to be sure
to have strands high, low, and through the middle if you'll be planting deer
delicacies.
HTH,
Lisa M.
Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be. - Grandma Moses

I'm
U.S.
fencing
just
the
over
doesn't
will
sure
deer
Oh swell. This is gonna be more intricate than I thought! I'd like to take
the easy way out. I found out yesterday that I could probably get a variance
for an 8 foot chain link fence, but they're so damned ugly.

The first thing that you need to do is to check with the
local (city or county) authorities to make sure that they
are permitted in your area. When I stated checking around
here I was amazed how many areas now prohibit them (even
though the area is rural).

local (city or county) authorities to make sure that they
are permitted in your area. When I stated checking around
here I was amazed how many areas now prohibit them (even
though the area is rural).>>
Interesting, and that is the very reason I didn't check the rules. Someone
would have to come onto my property to know that I had one, and I figure it is
no one's business.
As far as brands: I have a small unit K.9. Brand around my vegetable garten and
a Big unit from TSC that protects a large flower and shade garden area.
Contrary to what others have recommended, I use a single strand of wire at
about 2.5 to 3 foot high (nose height). The deer have been leaving our stuff
alone for about 2 years now. They do occasionaly crash through and nock down
the fence and the next day, I just put it back up.
Dave
http://members.tripod.com/~VideoDave

stuff
down
That's sort of what I was thinking: Don't ask, don't tell. Besides, the
neighbors who've been here for 20+ years say they've never seen deer during
the hours when kids would be out playing and might approach the garden. So,
I thought I'd probably put the electric fence on a timer. I understand that
the fence is unlikely to harm a person, but tell that to a mommy. If I can
point to a timer, all should be peaceful.

Doug Kanter said:
<< neighbors who've been here for 20+ years say they've never seen deer during
the hours when kids would be out playing and might approach the garden. So,
I thought I'd probably put the electric fence on a timer. I understand that
the fence is unlikely to harm a person >>
I wouldn’t wory about those kids unless one of them has a pacemaker. My
small unit runs at 1000 Volts and the big one at 5000, but the current is
miniscule. Touching the fence is about equivalent to the shock you get when you
scuff your feet on a rug. That static electricity jolt, by-the-way is about
50,000 volts, but the only way you can get hurt is if you happen to be picking
up a gas can.
Dave
http://members.tripod.com/~VideoDave

about
picking
Yeah....I know. But, there are people who have built lives around refusing
to learn. Given a choice between a 20 minute pointless conversation, and
spending $20 on a timer, I'll go for the timer. :-)
Another example: When I got my pistol permit, my ex wife kept crabbing about
"What if the gun goes off by itself?" (when my son's at my house). I told
her the holster completely covered the trigger, and that the gun was in a
locked metal box. "Well....if it goes off by itself, won't the bullet go
through the box?" Told her it was unloaded when locked up. "What if you
leave a round in the chamber". Told her "I check it twice, in case I'm
tired". "Do <kid's name> and his friends know where the key is???" Told her
"Of course. How can they play with the gun if they can't get it out of the
box???" That usually has the same effect as the timer for the electric
fence. End of silly conversation. :-)

My fencer zaps like touching the sparkplug on a mower or chain saw. >>
From time to time I touch it by accident. You are right, it is a bit more
than a static shock, because that lasts for a tiny fraction of a second, while
the fence is a sustained current. It still is not enough to do any harm, but
I'm not sure if it could effect a pacemaker. I don't think any of the kids or
deer for that matter have one. :-)
Dave
http://members.tripod.com/~VideoDave

the only way a properly installed electric fence could really
hurt a person is if they had a mechanical pacemaker. we have
electric stock fence on one minute pulse (i went 2 years
before i got a shock & then it was because we had a faulty
ground & the gate got charged. i was barefoot...). Tom hit the
hot wire with his forehead bending over to pick up a rock &
saw some pretty good stars & my 4 year old hit the fence with
his umbrella Saturday. it scared him more than hurt.
yeah, a timer should solve your nanny city problem though.
lee

--
It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still
differentiate

First of all, I understand animals quickly get used to being sprayed, and
begin laughing at it. Second, I have no interest in spraying animals with a
"solution of something else" which might harm them. Except dogs, of course.

Where deer pressure is high:
http://www.premier1supplies.com/store/fence_display.html?fence_id1&design_id=5
or where deer pressure is lower:
http://www.premier1supplies.com/store/fence_display.html?fence_id3&design_id=5

My garden electric fence is over 10 years old and still works well. I
had to replace the wire this year, but the solar plate and battery are
still going strong. I bought it at a farmer's co-op. It is designed
for cattle. About $100.

I've ordered stuff from Kencove (http://www.kencove.com /).
I use a Stafix charger. I use it with two hot strands on top of a 4 foot fence
to keep racoons and groundhogs from going over. (We once saw deer right
across the street but haven't had them in our yard, so far as I know.)
For deer you'd probably want more strands or even flat bands.

To protect against rabbits and deer, go with the fence (wooden or rabbit fencing
which "disappears" nicely when backed by shrubs) on the bottom and put the wires
above. We havent done electric fencing around my mothers property because of the
bitch next door who would probably run off screaming to the city so we used bird
netting and laid down that green vinyl covered square open wire fencing on the
outside. Deer dont like the feel of something coming up around their feet or
legs.
we bend it to have a curve and use "earth stakes" to keep it down in place.
along the road deer were coming thru the fencing breaking it so we hammered in 10
foot conduit in an X in those spots and they have left the fence along there.
it is very true that deer dont have 3D and are wary about jumping a double
fence.
Ingrid
snipped-for-privacy@someplace.net.net (Pat Kiewicz) wrote:
. I use it with two hot strands on top of a 4 foot fence

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
http://puregold.aquaria.net /
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
endorsements or recommendations I make.

I run 4 strands, 6", 2', 4', and 6'. Chargers come "continuous" or
"pulsed". I use a pulsed one for safety reasons - the current is off
long enough for you to get loose from it if needed. One of the old
tricks is cutting strips of tin foil, clothes pinning them to the hot
wire, and rubbing peanut butter on them. A deer or other animal needs
only one shock to the tongue to learn to stay away.
I have lots of deer on my property, but they have learned to stay out
of the garden. Haven't had one in there in years now.
Bob S.

Log in

HomeOwnersHub.com is a website for homeowners and building and maintenance pros. It is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.